Definition
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, shrimp, shellfish, and seaweed in controlled freshwater or marine environments. Unlike wild-capture fisheries, aquaculture allows for planned production, quality control, and scalable output. Globally, aquaculture now provides roughly half of all fish consumed by humans. For Oman, aquaculture represents a strategic opportunity to boost protein production, create coastal employment, and reduce pressure on wild fish stocks.
Context in Oman
Oman has a 3,165-kilometre coastline and favourable marine conditions for aquaculture. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth, and Water Resources has designated priority zones for aquaculture development in Barka, Sur, Duqm, and Dhofar. Target species include sea bream (Sparus aurata), grouper, abalone, shrimp, and tilapia. The government offers investment incentives including subsidised land, utility connections, and streamlined environmental permitting. Several international aquaculture companies have partnered with Omani entities. The Oman Aquaculture Development Company and private investors are building large-scale cage and land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facilities.
Key Data Points
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Coastline length | 3,165 km |
| Priority aquaculture zones | Barka, Sur, Duqm, Dhofar |
| Target species | Sea bream, grouper, shrimp, abalone |
| Current production | Growing from low base |
| Production target (2030) | Tens of thousands of tonnes |
Vision 2040 Connection
Aquaculture is one of the priority sub-sectors under Vision 2040 fisheries and food security strategy. The vision targets a significant increase in farmed fish production, positioning Oman as a regional aquaculture hub. This supports food self-sufficiency, creates rural and coastal employment, and generates export revenue from premium species.
Further Reading
- [[Oman Fisheries Sector]]
- [[Oman Food Security Strategy]]
- [[What is Economic Diversification]]